Aptera Website Update 1/22

[c0mp13x]

Slight refresh of the primary website with video links on the front page. Also on the new "Quick Info" tab, a mention of "Air Conditioning and Heating" available to supplement the solar powered climate control system (heat exchanger) that has previously been mentioned.

I suspected that the small heat exchanger system would have a tough time cooling the cab during hot summer temps. I hope they keep the price reasonable if AC and heat are now an option...

Aptera Updated Website (http://www.aptera.com/)

[Matthijs]

Great stuff. I was surfing the pages and then saw you were quicker on the draw then me slamming it onto the board. :D

I hope the specs of the Aptera will be nearly as good as the Prototype. It would be almost on American to have a big list with extra's to buy. I think they will do that in Europe. :D

It also look like Aptera will build maintenance centers. This is not really a good way to go in my opinion. They can be better off with a new business model.

[KarenRei]

Don't see how this is news; they've been talking about in-seat heating and cooling for a while. Some of the vids mention that Aptera uses a heat pump.

The fan only prevents the car from getting more than a few degrees above ambient.

[c0mp13x]

Have to disagree... I do find this news worthy.

Yes, I'm quite aware of the Aptera's use of a heat pump system, direct cooling and heating of the seats and the solar driven "climate control" system with its exhaust fans.

The lines of delineation of these systems and how they integrate into the Aptera climate control, have not previously been separated into a AC/heat option and the "climate control" system we have all been hearing about. If a heat pump is part what is included with the standard Aptera "climate control" system, a sufficiently large one would be able to cool and heat seats with the strength of your home refrigerator. All it takes is power...;)

So... is the included climate control system simply a solar powered cabin exhaust fan or does it help run a included heat pump to maintain 1-2 degree above ambient temp (as previously claimed) for that giant fishbowl of a cabin on a 110 degree SoCal day? We all are quite aware of the temps that can be reached in a enclosed cabin with big windows.

Or... does the Aptera just include a "climate control" fan and now, the heat pump we've all been hearing about is a option for AC/heat above and beyond the base prices that have been quoted?

My worry, and qualification for newsworthyness, is that with new talk of AC/heat being an option, and navigation, infotainment and even opening windows undefined... will the Aptera price itself right out of a very fast moving and competitive EV market?

Remember Steve's early goal of this being an affordable vehicle for under $20K?

[KarenRei]

They've never used the word "optional" in reference to the heat pump. And it would seem pretty ridiculous not to have a normal climate control system; few would buy a new, enclosed car these days without climate control. What sort of company would make a nav console/satellite radio/etc standard, and not include AC/heat standard? I'm not getting why you're so concerned.

Heat pumps aren't limited by ambient. Fans are. Hence, the "few degrees over ambient" applies only to the solar-powered exhaust fan. And, from my experience with solar, that's about all that small of an area of cells will get you.

Don't worry about this.

[c0mp13x]

Does the Aptera offer heating and air conditioning?

Yes, air conditioning and heating are available. The solar assisted climate control mentioned on the website and much of our press, simply takes solar energy from the solar cells embedded into the roof to power the normal climate control system.Do you equate the word available to mean included? I don't, it's a marketing term that generally means optional.



What sort of company would make a nav console/satellite radio/etc standard, and not include AC/heat standard?You are assuming that nav/sat/stereo/etc are included in the base price, please read below. Oh yeah... what kind of company would do that? A company concerned with creating a brand new product, getting it to market and meeting a established price point.



Can the Aptera be ordered without the rear camera and GPS?

We are considering what features will be standard equipment, and what will be a value-added option.

Is there a stereo system?

Yes, there may be several options for infotainment in the production model.

[Chupacabra]

I would rather have AC then crap like NAV and Sattelite radio.. lol

[KarenRei]

I really think it's playing semantics. The word for options is "optional", not "available".